Foiling a terrorist plot to strike on the Independence Day tomorrow, security forces unearthed a huge cache of explosives in Poonch while militants shot dead three persons, including a policeman and carried out three grenade attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said.

Close on the heels of recovery of a major haul of explosives near Bakshi stadium, the venue of the official function in Srinagar, security forces unearthed a terrorist plot to trigger a series of explosions in border district of Poonch, the sources said.

Security forces raided a hideout in Pirara-Mandi area of Poonch this morning on specific information about a terrorist plan to strike on independence day in the border town.

The troops recovered eight high power improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 38 electronic detonators, one night vision device, seven grenades, three time pencil devices, timers and other articles, the sources said.

They said the ultras, however, escaped.

Troops have launched a cordon and search operation in the area to track down the militants, who were planning terror attacks in the district, the sources said.

A policeman, constable Sham Lal, was killed when militants opened fire on a police party at Dachhan in Kishtwar area of Doda district in Jammu region last night, a police spokesman said.

He said the police party fired back and in the ensuing encounter a militant was injured. However, the militants was taken away by his associates.

The spokesman said militants abducted and later shot dead one Arif Ahmad Ganai at Danis in Beerwah area of Badgam district in central Kashmir today.

Arif was kidnapped by militants from his house at Kandoora along with one Farooq Ahmad whose fate was not known, he said.

Another civilian Mohammad Yousuf Naik was abducted and later killed by militants in Damhalhanjipora area of Kulgam in Anantnag district this morning, the spokesman said.

He said two persons including a police officer were injured when militants hurled a grenade on a patrol party in Awantipora area of Pulwama district today.

The ultras lobbed the explosive towards a police party at around 10.25 am in the crowded Awantipora market place. The device exploded causing injuries to two persons, including a sub-inspector, he said.

Militants also hurled a grenade on a CRPF picket near Kishtwar bus stand in Doda district today. The grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the road wounding two pedestrains, he said.

Another grenade was lobbed by militants towards a security picket at general post office at Anantnag district town last night. The device hit a nearby residential house causing damage to it, the spokesman said. No one, he added, was hurt in the attack.

The spokesman said militants exchanged fire with security forces at Achin in Pulwama district late last night, but no one was hurt in the shootout.

Police apprehended a Lashkar-e-Tayiba militant on August 11 and recovered a pistol, its two magazines, 12 rounds and three lakhs from his possession.